About

Dalton has actively embraced an innovative and progressive tradition for approximately 100 years. Read an introduction from Head of School Jim Best; learn about Dalton's history and founder Helen Parkhurst's Education on the Dalton Plan; view Dalton's mission and values, including the School's intentional commitment to establish equity and diversity, and review Dalton's most recent Strategic Plan.

Programs

Dalton offers its 1,300 students a wide array of stimulating and challenging programs taught by passionate and dedicated faculty. Outstanding academic offerings are complemented by exemplary performing and fine arts curricula – taught by faculty who are professionals in their fields – and a full range of athletic teams and extracurricular activities.

Our Community

Dalton takes great pride in the strength of its engaged and collaborative community. Students, faculty & staff, parents, and alumni work together to advance mission, celebrate tradition and enhance school culture. Students, teachers, and alumni serve on the Board of Trustees, along with the Administrative Team.

Admissions

At Dalton, the primary focus is to nurture children's natural inquisitiveness, develop self-confidence in their intelligence and ability to succeed, and teach them to be responsible and independent learners and thinkers.

News & Calendar

Dalton regularly posts its good news, events and more for applicant families, alumni and other interested parties. Dalton regularly features news stories, photos, video and announcements about our students' achievements and other products of our progressive mission.

Guest Speaker for HS Bioethics Students

Posted - 2/2/2018

Joseph Fins, MD -- Professor of Medical Ethics; Chief, Division of Medical Ethics and Professor of Medicine; Professor of Medical Ethics in Neurology and Professor of Medicine in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and Co-Director, CASBI-Consortium for the Advanced Study of Brain Injury at Weill Cornell and Rockefeller University -- treated eleventh and twelfth graders in Ron Schollenberger's Bioethics class to a lively, thought-provoking discussion. Dr. Fins shared the experiences and insights he gained from his many years of research studying the nature of human consciousness and various medical disorders of consciousness such as the Vegetative State, the Minimally Conscious State and Locked-In Syndrome.

Much of his presentation focused on the various bioethical and policy issues associated with patients with severe brain injuries and disorders of consciousness, the civil rights of these patients and the ethics that are followed when performing neurological and psychiatric research. Dr. Fins' passion for his work and his commitment to helping patients who can't speak for themselves was quite evident, and these traits hopefully served to motivate my students to continue to pursue the study of Bioethics in the future.

We are grateful that Dr. Fins was able to take the time to visit our class, and we hope to see him next year. To become more familiar with Dr. Fins' work, please read one of his many books, the most recent is Rights Come to Mind: Brain Injury, Ethics and the Struggle for Consciousness, or watch one of his lectures/interviews on YouTube.